Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Poetry Chaikhana Home

New | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact | Links
Poets by: Name| Tradition | Century | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary


Forum | eCard Gallery | Poetry Chaikhana Radio

www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com

 

Yoga / Hindu : Shakta / Tantra (Goddess-oriented)
18th Century

 

About Ramprasad

Timeline (1718? - 1775?)

 

 

<<Previous Poem | View All Poems by Ramprasad | Next Poem >>

English version by
Lex Hixon

Original Language
Bengali
Conquer Death with the drumbeat Ma! Ma! Ma!

Themes
  Death
  Drum
  Light
  Lotus
  Moon

 

Recommended Books

Devoted to the Goddess : The Life and Work of Ramprasad, by Malcolm Mclean
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, by M. (Sri Mahendra Gupta) / Translated by Swami Nikhilananda
Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair: Ramprasad Sen - Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess, Translated by Leonard Nathan / Clinton Seely
Great Swan: Meetings with Ramakrishna, by Lex Hixon
Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar, by Elizabeth U. Harding

More >>

Who is this unique warrior woman?
Her terrifying war cry
     pervades the universal battleground.
Who is this incomparable feminine principle?
Contemplating her limitless nature,
the passion to possess and be gratified dissolves.
Who is this elusive wisdom woman?
Her smooth and fragrant body of intense awareness
     is like the petal of a dark blue lotus.

A single eye of knowledge
     shines from her noble forehead
like a moon so full its light engulfs the sun.
This mysterious Goddess, eternally sixteen,
is naked brilliance, transparent insight.
Cascades of black hair stream down her back
     to touch her dancing feet.
Perfect in the art of widom warfare
she is the treasury of every excellence,
the reservoir of all that is good.

Her poet sings with unshakable assurance:
"Anyone who lives consciously in the presence
     of this resplendent savioress
can conquer Death with the drumbeat
     Ma! Ma! Ma!"

 

 

-- from Mother of the Universe: Visions of the Goddess and Tantric Hymns of Enlightenment, Translated by Lex Hixon

 

 

<<Previous Poem | View All Poems by Ramprasad | Next Poem >>

 

 

Poetry Chaikhana Home

New | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact | Links
Poets by: Name| Tradition | Century | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary


Forum | eCard Gallery | Poetry Chaikhana Radio

www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com
Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2005 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.